SAZT laments 2023 sanitary budget reduction

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Zim Now Writer

The Sanitary Aid Zimbabwe Trust has bemoaned the budget cut down by 80% of the sanitary wear programme.

The budget was reduced from US$11.64 million in 2022 to US$2.32 million for 2023.

SAZT said the allocated funds are not enough to cater for menstrual health.

“The 2023 sanitary wear budget allocation declined by 80 percent when compared to the 2022 allocation, which means that 8 in 10 girls who received sanitary wear this year will not get it next year.

“If Minister Ncube had maintained the value allocated in 2020 (US$12.5 million), it means at least ZWL$8.4 billion should have been allocated for 2023, although we had requested for at least ZWL$15 billion to be allocated for 2023.

“Without sanitary wear, many girls will miss school every month, some will resort to unsafe rags, cow dung and leaves. Some might eventually drop out,” SAZT said.

According to SAZT, in 2021 treasury initially allocated US$6.1 million for provision of sanitary wear for female learners from vulnerable households and later increased it to US$7.34 million.

“The irony which now boggles the mind is that if US$6.1 million was deemed to be little in 2021, why did Treasury allocate a paltry US$2.32 million for 2023?,” SAZT questioned.

Meanwhile, SAZT is calling for proper coordination of the sanitary wear programme to ensure efficient and effective delivery to intended beneficiaries